How incredible is that!!You put your mind to it and you did it....of course, it took lots of determination and hours and hours of practice on your part.You are awesome! You should be really proud of yourself.

Absolutely incredible Pat! Tears of joy on our faces as we congratulate you on your remarkable feat. We congratulate you for your courage and determination and believing that you could accomplish this remarkable challenge. Bravo to the heavens! Just think, you can now say "I swam across the English Channel!" Wow!!!!!

My sister and I have been following Pat's swim all day...we are so very happy for her! I had the pleasure of meeting Pat when she spoke with our book club last fall after we read Swimming To Antartica and she quickly become an inspiration to all of us there. What an amazing woman!

I'm a reporter for the Portland Press Herald keeping our readers updated on Pat's progress. I'll be writing a story for tomorrow's paper and would love to talk to anyone who's been keeping an eye on the blog and rooting for Pat. Please send me an email at lbridgers@pressherald.com

Pat and Family, This has been an amazing accomplishment to watch. Your dedication to Robbie's memory is unbelievable. We are so proud of you and know that Robbie is somewhere laughing with that wonderful laugh that we all remember. Robbie's namesake, Seth Mark Robert Delisle , has been watching your journey as well. Maybe you can meet sometime. Way to Go! Sue Leahy Delisle, Mark Delisle and Seth Mark Robert Delisle

Congratulations to Pat as well! I spoke to Pat for the American Journal just before she left. If any members of her family would like to contact me for a follow-up article, write to smurphy@keepmecurrent.com.

My co-workers and I started following your blog today after we saw the article on the press herald. We congratulate you from the bottom of our hearts and feel over joyed for your accomplishment. We look forward to reading more about this when you have time to share. God bless you all.

Congratulations hardly seems sufficient to recognize this accomplishment. I don't cry easily but today, my tears flow freely and they are all for you, Pat. In honor of your dedication, committment and determination but most of all, in honor of the woman you are! Enjoy every moment of this day, you earned it.

Congratulations Pat! You have realized your dream!!It was so exciting, and emotional, to be with you during the swim.Thank you Sarah, for providing the 'you are there' coverage of Pat's swim.What a wonderful day!!!!!Pat Whitney

Sarah; thanks so much for keeping us all up to date for the last 24 hours and for all those long hours spotting at Pine Point for what is now probably 4 years or more. Without the help of her family Pat never would be there today.Setting foot on French soil today must have been an unbelievable emotional experience for Pat and you all. No one knows what drove her more than you and the immediate family. It has been wonderful that she has allowed so many of us to be a part of her journey.She is such a positive inspiration to so many.

Oh my goodness!!Congratulations and thank you so much!!!It means so much that you did this, that you persevered, that you cared, that you swam and kept swimming. Thanks so much from Boston and from Rich Beilock's other family! I just left a message on my sister's answering machine in Florida to let her know. She will be thrilled. Cheers,Kathryn Collins

Go Grandma! You can do it, if you try!

Meet Pat Gallant-Charette, a native of Maine, Westbrook resident, University of Southern Maine graduate, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and full time nurse. In her spare time, 64 year old Pat is a marathon swimmer. In her first attempt of the English Channel, success was snatched from her grasp in July 2008. After swimming 16 hours in the Channel, with the lights in French homes encouraging her and still feeling strong, Pat fought impenetrable currents for four hours just 1.7 miles from the finish line. While Pat had made it across....and that was a dream come true...the ultimate challenge had eluded her. In 2009, prevaling winds prevented Pat from starting her second attempt of the English Channel. Pat returned to Maine determined to return to Dover for another attempt. She came late to the Gallant-Charette swimming club. Her son Tom was on the Westbrook High School swim team and her youngest brother, Robbie Gallant twice won the 2.4 mile Peaks to Portland swim. Robbie, just 34 years old, was a loving husband, and devoted father to three year old Christopher when he suffered a fatal heart attack fifteen years ago. Soon after Robbie's untimely death, Pat's son Tom said, "Ma, I'd like to swim the Peaks to Portland as a tribute to Uncle Robbie." Pat replied, "Tom, that's so sweet, I wish I could do the same." Looking at her encouragingly, Tom said, "You can, if you try." Those words inspired Pat to swim Peaks. At the age of 46 her fitness regime had consisted mainly of walking, but with a regular workout schedule at the local pool, Pat gradually built up her endurance. She met the qualifying requirement for the Peaks to Portland swim the following year. You can only imagine her emotion on finding her young nephew Christopher waiting for her at the end of that swim. Pat continues to enter the Peaks to Portland every year and Christopher, now a young man, cheers her on. That success encouraged her to seek other goals, including a double crossing of Maine's Big Sebago Lake (12 miles), the Great Chesapeake Bay swim (4.4 miles) and the Strait of Gibraltar swim (9 miles), where stroke by stroke Pat repeated her mantra, "You can, if you try". Then on June 16, 2010 Pat swam across the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain to Africa) in a time of 3 hours and 28 minutes. And much to her surprise, she placed 3rd fastest woman's time since 1928, set the U.S.Woman's record for fastest time, and the new record for the fastest time for any woman or man over the age of 50 worldwide. Pat nurtured the belief that she is capable of swimming the English Channel, considered by many to be the greatest test of a long distance swimmer. While nominally 20.7 miles, strong tides and currents in the Channel make the real distance covered by swimmers 30 miles or more. On August 22, 2011 Pat entered the English Channel determined to reach France. With her crew of brother David, sister-in-law Jeannie, and nephews' Kyle and Chris (Robbie's son), she reached her dream in a time of 15 hours and 57 minutes. Pat set the oldest American woman's record at the age of 60. The English Channel Swimming Association awarded her with the "Rosemary George Award for the 'Most Meritorious Swim of the Year' for 2011." Then, on October 18, 2011 Pat at the age of 60 set a new World Record for the Oldest Woman to swim from Catalina Island to the mainland of California ( 21 mile swim). She was accompanied by her crew: brother Bill and sister-in-law Jean. Her swim was dedicated to her brother Johnny who died at the age of seventeen in a tragic accident. Pat has written a children's book called, "Catalina...Oh, my! An Adventure Story." She is currently looking for a publisher for her completed 32 page picture book. Pat founded "Valentine's Day...Swim for your Heart." a global swim event to bring an awareness of heart disease and prevention. http://swimforyourheartfeb14.com She encourages swimmers worldwide to participate in thought and action by swimming on February 14. Swimmers donate to their favorite heart charity or program. In 2011 the "Daily News of Open Water Swimming" announced the nominees for the "World Open Water Swimmer, Woman of the Year" award. Pat at the age of 60 was nominated for this award. Twelve swimmers were nominated throughout the world for this distinct honor. Then in 2012 at the age of 61, she was nominated for World Open Water Swimmer, Woman of the Year" award. Also, in 2012 and 2013 she was selected as one of 101 women worldwide as "101 Movers and Shakers" in the world of open water swimming.....known as "open water ambassadors, spreading their enthusiasm and passion for the sport. ". Pat was inducted into the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame on April 12, 2014. Pat announced that she will attempt to swim the Oceans Seven Challenge. On September 13, 2012 she completed Japan's Tsugaru Strait (her fourth swim of the challenge) in a time of 19 hours and 36 minutes (33 miles) and set a world record for the oldest person to swim Tsugaru Strait. In August 2013 Pat attempted to swim the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland. After swimming for 16 hours and 43 minutes and less than one mile from the finish line, the tidal flow changed directions and prevented Pat from completing her swim. On January 24, 2014 Pat attempted to swim Cook Strait in New Zealand. Mother Nature provided very strong tidal flows preventing her from reaching the finish line after several hours of swimming. She will attempt Cook Strait at a later date and she will attempt the North Channel again in 2015. Also, she plans to swim Molakai Channel between the islands of Oahu and Molokai Islands in Hawaii the 7th swim of the challenge in 2016. Contact information: patgallant.charette@gmail.com

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